Published 10:40 am, Friday, February 1, 2013

Q: You recently published a letter from somebody eating a lot of cilantro to control psoriasis. Before others try this approach, I want to offer a caution.

My brother enjoyed using lots of cilantro in his salsa until he realized it is high in vitamin K. He needed a higher dose of Coumadin (warfarin) to get the same blood-thinning effect.

A: Warfarin is an anticoagulant medication used to prevent dangerous blood clots that might cause heart attacks, strokes or other serious problems. It works by interfering with vitamin K, a natural compound that promotes blood clotting.

Q: When I stopped taking the antihistamine Zyrtec, I started itching like crazy! My scalp, my arms, my neck and my legs all itch. I just want to cry.

This awful reaction happened once before after stopping this allergy medicine. When I asked the pharmacist, he said it was unrelated. I just don't believe that. How long will this itching last?

A: Hundreds of readers have reported experiencing uncontrollable itching after stopping cetirizine (Zyrtec) suddenly. Because this complication is not widely recognized, we are not surprised that your pharmacist assumed your symptoms were unrelated.

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Visitors to our website report that it can take several weeks for the itching to subside. Some suggest that vitamin C may help ease the discomfort during this period.

Q: A few years ago, I started taking Ambien for a sleep disorder. One day, I drove my 7-year-old daughter to school in the morning after taking Ambien the night before. Luckily, the school was only a half-mile from my house. I didn't truly wake up until I was sitting in my car in the garage after returning home.

I found out later that I had repeatedly driven into the curb. One of my tires was flat as a result. My daughter was so traumatized by the incident that she wouldn't let me drive her to school again.

I think this drug is dangerous. I got even more than a full night's sleep, but I still turned into a dangerous driving zombie in the morning.

A: The Food and Drug Administration has received more than 700 reports of impaired ability or road traffic accidents from people who had taken zolpidem (Ambien). As a result, the agency has recommended lower doses to avoid just the sort of risky situation you experienced.

New research suggests that older people who rely on sleeping pills may be at greater risk for developing dementia (BMJ online, Sept. 27, 2012). This, added to the risk of morning hangover, makes such drugs less desirable for getting a good night's sleep.

Q: You have written several times about putting yellow mustard on a burn for relief. Thank goodness I have known about this emergency approach for more than 30 years.

About eight years ago, when my twin girls were 3 years old, I was cooking myself a cup of noodles in the microwave. I had set it on the kitchen counter, and one of my twins picked the cup off the counter and tipped it up as if to drink it like juice. She spilled boiling-hot noodles and liquid all over her front.

I immediately took off her shirt, grabbed the mustard out of the fridge and applied it heavily to her chin, neck and face. I covered the burn with paper towel. In the morning, I was surprised that there was no blistering. Just a tiny speck of redness remained.

A: We continue to be amazed by reports that cold yellow mustard eases the pain and redness of kitchen burns. Others say that soy sauce also helps. A severe burn always requires immediate medical attention.